Once upon a time, Sam and Amy lived in a beautiful old house on a tree-lined street in Poughkeepsie, New York. It was a lovely house from the outside, but inside, something was very wrong. Every day, the same story unfolded before the children’s eyes. For a long time, it seemed like nothing would ever change, and Sam and Amy felt vulnerable, isolated, and afraid. But this story has a happy ending, and one day a new door opened to a special place called Grace Smith House. This place was safe and nurturing, and best of all, contained many wonderful books! And Sam and Amy opened a new chapter to a life free from the shadow of domestic abuse.

Sam and Amy’s story is familiar to the countless children who have found shelter with their parent at Grace Smith House. Our mission is to empower individuals and their families to build new lives after escaping domestic violence, and turning the first page requires renewing the emotional bond between a child and their parent.Reading books together helps parents and children connect, strengthens trust, and eases the psychological pain inflicted through extensive exposure to abuse. Our little library is filled every day with the laughter of children just like Sam and Amy picking out books to share with their parent. Each new chapter a parent and child begin together is a door to a brighter, better future.

Click Here to
Donate a Book to our Library

We are ONLY accepting books - new or gently used -  from our wish list.
Ship to: Our New Chapter Library, Grace Smith House, PO Box 5205, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

Our New Chapter Library would not be possible without the support of our community. We all remember books from our childhood that touched us, and long to share those books with our loved ones. We ask you to share those same beloved books with us, and to give a wonderful gift to a survivor of domestic violence and their child. Please consider donating a new copy of your
​favorite book to our library, and open a new chapter in someone’s life.

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Suggest A Book

Our New Chapter Library
Grace Smith House
PO Box 5205
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

Know of a book you think would be perfect for Our New Chapter Library? Let us know! Email the title and author to office@gracesmithhouse.org and we will include it on our wish list. Want to provide a copy of that book directly? Send the book to our mailing address below. Please, NEW & VERY GENTLY USED BOOKS only.

We encourage our donors to include a handwritten note in the inside cover of the donated book sharing with us why it is they love this particular book. We also encourage suggestions of books for all ages, as the children in our shelter range from new readers to teenagers. We also aim to acquire books that offer diverse perspectives, and especially appreciate donations of books representing different cultures, religions, ethnicities and nationalities, as reading fosters empathy and self-expression.

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Get Caught Reading

"Reading is one of the most important activities for a child to share with their parent. Seuss’s “Ten Apples Up On Top!” is one of my favorite books from when my own children were little. We read it almost every night together, and both my kids and myself have wonderful memories from those times spent as a family. I am so thankful to the funders and donors who are making it possible for the children in our programs to share the same valuable time with their parents."

- Michele

Grace Smith House's Executive Director,
Michele Pollock Rich, gets caught reading

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Library Funding

This Grace Smith House Non-Residential Children's Library program was made possible with funding and grants from the Community Response Grants Fund - Dutchess of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, the Senator Stephen M. Saland Legacy Fund, Mid-Hudson Reading Council, Vassar College, and Jewish Women's International. Grace Smith House sincerely appreciates the support of our community partners in the fulfillment of our mission, and the support of residents of Dutchess County and beyond who continue to supply books for our library.